For Immediate Release
Tuesday, December 1, 2015
Contact:
Amanda Hughes
(209) 576-1608
[email protected]
Stanislaus Community Foundation Receives James Irvine Foundation Grant
Innovative Stanislaus READS! Initiative is Focus of Funding
Stanislaus Community Foundation announced today that it has received a significant investment in the
Stanislaus READS! campaign. Thanks to a $300,000, two-year grant from The James Irvine Foundation, Stanislaus
Community Foundation will expand the resources and services they provide through Stanislaus READS!, a multiagency, multi-year initiative to help Stanislaus County children read – and succeed – by third grade.
“We’re pleased to engage with The James Irvine Foundation to improve literacy for kids in Stanislaus county,”
said Marian Kaanon, President/CEO of Stanislaus Community Foundation. “As Stanislaus READS! gained
momentum in the past year, our partners have modelled collaboration every step of the way. We’re honored
that Irvine is committed to funding this meaningful, systemic work in our region. This grant will allow us to
leverage our own funds and seek additional support from corporate and community partners.”
The goals of the grant are:
1. To support the backbone organization for the Stanislaus READS! initiative.
2. To increase the number of children and families served by the Stanislaus READS!.
3. To build the leadership capacity of community members, including Stanislaus READS! stakeholders,
around cross-sector systems change work.
Stanislaus Community Foundation, in partnership with Stanislaus County Office of Education, the Children and
Families Commission, Stanislaus County Libraries, joined forces in 2014 to focus on third-grade reading levels
because third grade is the last year a child is taught reading as a subject. In the fourth grade, students no longer
‘learn to read’ but must ‘read to learn.’ Stanislaus READS! focuses on three primary challenge areas that impact
third-grade reading levels: school readiness, chronic absences, and summer slide.
Stanislaus READS! was launched in March 2015. Five school districts partnered to expand book distribution
programs, summer learning camps and parent engagement. In 2016, the work is being scaled up to nine school
districts. Strategies will include additional grants to expand summer learning opportunities, a community-wide
book drive, the expansion of Little Free Libraries in neighborhoods and health clinics, and extended outreach to
local churches and employers.
ABOUT STANISLAUS COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
Stanislaus Community Foundation has been a catalyst to transform local resources into common good since
2002. The foundation houses more than 100 unique charitable funds which have been set up by individuals,
families, corporations, public and nonprofit agencies with a charitable goal. Since its inception, Stanislaus
Community Foundation has provided close to $11 million in grants and scholarships within our region.
1029 16th Street, Modesto, CA 95354
O: (209) 576-1608
F: (209) 593-3030
www.StanislausCF.org
ABOUT JAMES IRVINE FOUNDATION
The James Irvine Foundation is a private, nonprofit grantmaking foundation dedicated to expanding opportunity
for the people of California to participate in a vibrant, successful and inclusive society. The Foundation’s
grantmaing focuses on three program areas: Arts, California Democracy and Youth. Since 1937 the Foundation
has provided over $1.5 billion in grants to more than 3,600 nonprofit organizations throughout California. With
about $2 billion in assets, the Foundation made grants of $73 million in 2014 for the people of California.
1029 16th Street, Modesto, CA 95354
O: (209) 576-1608
F: (209) 593-3030
www.StanislausCF.org